"Slow Down" Signs Stolen Stolen From Dangerous Suicide Hill (NE 41st Street)

 



A Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) Board Member, Robin, let the Laurelhurst Blog know that "Slow Down" signs he put out near Suicide Hill have been taken.

Robin, who works on road safety with the Laurelhurst Community Club, has  over many years witnessed accidents and near misses. He has been working for several years now on improving the safety in that area.


And neighbors have continually reported speeders driving in excess of 50mph down the hill. Neighbors also say that drivers unfortunately go too fast to even read the Slow Down signs. 

Robin told the Laurelhurst Blog Staff:

At our last LCC meeting we were all rather pleased at all the new 20 mph speed limit signs posted up and down the south side of NE 41st Street which added 

to my SLOW DOWN signs on the north side of the street.  

My signs have been up for over 2 years but the others are brand new and have been up just 2 weeks. 

Last week every one of the signs on both sides of the street were stolen. This is the third time mine have been removed.

This is the very last of a batch of my "SLOW DOWN" signs.  All the rest have been stolen over the past three years.

Last January SDOT made changes to the dangerous area that included:

• Cutting back trees for visibility, especially those on on the north side of "Suicide Hill" and in the right-of-way to improve sight lines for all who travel along the corridor. This work will occur on NE 41^st Street between 42^nd Avenue NE and 43^rd Avenue NE.
• Replacing faded regulatory signs at the intersection and refresh the stop bars.
• A  new advisory sign indicating an advisory speed of 15 mph going downhill will be installed west of the Laurelhurst Park entrance and a new 30 mph speed limit sign will be posted at a location east of 48^th Avenue NE or 50^th Avenue NE for the westbound direction.
• Remarking the stop bars.

Last October the Laurelhurst Blog posted about a dog that was struck and killed by a speeding driver on NE 41st Street and in  December we reported about two car accidents, one in which one person left in an ambulance and the other the speeding driver lost control and hit the median sending one tired into the fence at Talaris and knocking part of it down.

Robin reminds drivers that the speed limit for all Seattle streets, unless otherwise posted, is 25mph.

If anybody has any idea who could have done this or where the valuable signs are, please contact laurelhurstblogger@gmail.com. 

   

Possible May Day Related Traffic Delays

King County Metro Transit issued the following alert

Today, all commuters in the greater Seattle area are advised to expect possible significant delays in transit service due to traffic, crowds and congestion associated with multiple planned May Day events.

It is not possible at this time to know which streets will be affected or when. Metro staff will work throughout the day to advise transit customers of impacts to service as they happen. There are currently no pre-planned reroutes. 

Any bus service that travels near or through the downtown Seattle and Capitol Hill areas may be subject to delays during Friday's events. Bus riders are advised to plan accordingly, stay tuned to media sites for updates, revise travel plans if necessary and allow plenty of travel time. For more information, go to: http://metro.kingcounty.gov/

Expect Traffic Delays Around Husky Statdium This Week-end

Tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, Husky Stadium will be the location of a large convention of the Jehovah’s Witness from 9-5pm.

SDOT says that the event could bring as many as 35,000 local and international attendees to the stadium each day and they will also be visiting other parts of Seattle. 

Attendees who will be traveling to campus using charter and Metro busses, as well as driving, taking up a majority of the on campus parking.  

"Access and egress to the Stadium will be handled in much the same way as other large events like basketball and Commencement," SDOT said.

 

 

 

Residents On NE Surber Drive Concerned That Speed Bumps Are Not Slowing Larger Vehicles Down, SDOT To Conduct Study



A resident on NE Surber Drive sent us email wondering how effective the speed cushions are, because he has seen cars, especially larger vehicles, such as SUVS, avoiding the speed cushions, thus still maintaining a high rate of speed.

The speed cushions, which are three inches high, were installed in  December of 2011 between NE 41st Street and 41st Avenue NE, due to numerous neighbors raising concerns about speeding cars over the last several years.

The City put in the speed cushions after more than 60 percent of affected neighbors signed a petition submitted in July of the same year.  The well-travelled corridor had been on SDOT’s priority funding list and SDOT wrote to the Laurelhurst Community Club last June that funds were finally available to "address the relatively high speeds." the Laurelhurst Community Club said. 

A resident wrote:

I have lived on Surber Drive for about four years.  I am shocked by the speed of many cars in this residential neighborhood. I helped gather signatures for installing the speed bumps thinking it would reduce speeds. Sadly, the change has been insignificant.

The width of the bumps allows cars with a wide wheel base (SUVs) to avoid contact.  Cars are still barreling around the corner into the construction zone and making it hazardous to back out of driveways.  The bumps have a shallow design and are not that intimidating to speeders.  Cars that do slow for the bumps have a long stretch to pick up speed after they clear them. 

I am sure the city engineers have reasons for this minimum design.  But for those seeking a solution to other speed problem areas in the neighborhood, realize that speed bumps, such as those installed on Surber, may not be a complete solution.

And another neighbor commented:

At the yield sign at Surber Drive and 42nd Avenue NE there used to be round bumps (I'm sure there is another name for them) and painted stripes to the right of the yield sign. Drivers going right onto 42nd Avenue NE cut to the right of the sign and sometimes even pass cars that are turning right from the correct side of the sign. Twice I have even witnessed drivers coming from Webster Point area and turning left onto Surber left of the sign on the left side of the road. Very scary!

 

Another resident commented:

I drove along Surber recently and had to pull to one side as a large, dark blue, SUV came ripping along the other way doing at least 30mph. The speed cushions had no effect on him at all. 

I think the SPD are the only ones to stop these folks. With all the construction vans and trucks either side of the road I was amazed the driver would even attempt 20 mph let alone 30mph.

The Laurelhurst Community Club told us that speeding along Surber continues to be a problem despite the speed cushions that were installed in 2011.   

LCC recently contacted the City after hearing from residents that certain vehicles are able to avoid any impact with the cushions due to a wide wheel base. Neighbors were also concerned about cars speeing around the curve in the road about at Belvoir when other cars are coming in the opposite direction. 

John Marek, SDOT Neighborhood Traffic Operations Supervisory wrote in response:

The speed cushions that were installed on Surber Drive NE were designed in accordance with federal guidelines outlined by the Institute for Traffic Engineers and the National Association of City Transportation Officials. 

These guidelines provide jurisdictions the ability to modify the design in accordance with street design and city policies, as we have done in Seattle. SDOT uses a design intended to maximize the traffic calming effects while minimizing the risk of property damage to vehicles and the impact to emergency service access to the neighborhood.  

While the installation of any traffic calming device on a roadway is intended to encourage slower traffic speeds, they are not able to make all motorists responsible drivers.   

SDOT will be conducting traffic studies on Surber Drive NE to help determine the effectiveness of the existing devices.  

Thank you also for sharing the information regarding Belvoir Place.  It is important to SDOT that we receive this type of information to continually provide our residents with excellent service.  

We ask that the neighborhood for this area participate in Seattle’s Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program to address these concerns on 42nd Avenue NE.  

Also, if neighbors are aware of vehicles that are travelling well above the posted speed limit, please contact SPD’s traffic unit at (206) 684-8757.  For questions or concerns, please contact our office directly at neighborhood.traffic@seattle.gov or (206) 684-0353.

Heavy Montlake Traffic Tomorrow During Opening Boating Day

The annual Opening Day Boat Parade and Windermere Cup will be held all day tomorrow and that means the Montlake Bridge will be closed from 10am to about 4pm.

Races begin at 10:20am, followed by the Opening Day Boat parade, with the theme this year "Toys Ahoy" at noon.

 About 10,000 people are expected to attend the event according to SDOT (Seattle Department of Transportation). So there will be congestion in the vicinity and around the University of Washington.

In addition, the westbound off-ramp from Highway 520 to Montlake Boulevard will be closed along with the left-turn lane on the eastbound off-ramp of 520 to Montlake. 

Should Children's Hospital Shuttles Be Re-Routed Onto NE 45th Instead of Sand Point Way From 40th Avenue NE? Give Your Input Now On Potential Permanent Routing Change

Children's Hospital Shuttle

You may have noticed Children's Hospital shuttles are now turning right onto NE 45th Street from 40th Avenue NE and lining up in the neighborhood traffic to cross the three-way Sand Point Way intersection.

The Hospital has changed the southbound route in the last ten days to see if it relieves the traffic burden, as well as some safety concerns, at the 40th Avenue NE and Sand Point Way intersection which has, up until recently, been the regular route. 

What do you think about the route change? Neighbors are encouraged to provide input on the new routing of the shuttles to see if it improves traffic flow and safety.
Email the following with your input:

• Paulo Nunes-Ueno, Hospital's Director of Transportation (paulo.nunes-ueno@seattlechildrens.org)
• Jeannie Hale, Laurelhurst Community Club President (jeannieh@serv.net)
• Colleen McAleer, LCC, (billandlin@aol.com)
• Laurelhurst Blog (laurelhurstblogger@gmail.com)  

Normally, the shuttles have been turning right out of the campus onto 40th Avenue NE, then turning left onto Sand Point Way, as decided by the CAC (Citizens Advisory Committee) during the Master Planning Process a few years ago, so as not to impact traffic on NE 45th Street, one of the main arterials into and out of the neighborhood. 

The recent change in route, Paulo Nunes-Ueno, Director of Transportation and Sustainability, said is due to the "considerable impact at the 40th Avenue NE and Sand Point Way  intersection because no other traffic could pass the vehicle (shuttle) that was waiting for on-coming traffic to clear before before attempting to turn left," Paolo added. He hopes that with the new route, traffic will flow more easily as shuttle busses will no longer be waiting to turn ,causing signficant delays and safety issues.

Paulo  told us that about 18 vehicles per hour are now turning onto NE 45th Street and queuing at the light and at less peak times about 6 vehicles are waiting at the light along with other traffic.

A traffic analysis, conducted by hospital hired consultants, at the time of the Master Planning process showed that the 40th Avenue NE/Sand Point Way route, as Paulo said, "would not likely cause a problem. But we wanted to be sensitive to the concern. During our project planning phase, neighbors provided valuable input and requested very specific routes for our vehicles to take as they enter and leave the Children’s campus."

However, now the Hospital is looking into changing the route as neighborhood drivers have commented that the shuttles are holding up others at the light causing congestion at the intersection. Pauolo said the hospital is working with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), and again with their own traffic consultants, and the Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) to look at potential improvements and possible long-term changes. 

The new southbound route will be in effect for a few weeks followed by another traffic measure initiated by Children's, and then the results will be shared at the next SAC (Standing Advisory Committee) meeting sometime in the next few months.

Paulo said that before permanently changing the shuttle routing,  the following will be taken into consideration: :

• review previous traffic analysis completed several years ago 
• measure of current traffic at 40th/SPW and other key intersections in the area using a transportation engineering company in order to set a baseline.
• meeting with SDOT to see if there are changes to the 40th /Sand Point Way intersection that might help
• seeking input from neighbors who were concerned about shuttles pouring onto NE 45th Street
• discussion with SDOT about allowing right turns on red at 40/SPW North Bound. and evaluation of whether it is possible from a safety stand point
• observation of safety conditions at 40th/SPW intersection

LCC told us that they are "adverse to shifting additional traffic to NE 45th Street if it causes significant back ups for local neighbor users from 40th Avenue Ne, unless we experience good results with the change."

LCC added that  perhaps collaborating with the Hospital on establishing some some timeline guidelines for shuttle routing could be developed from the data gathered. And this information could potentially make trafic flow easier for neighbors and the hospital at certain times of day, as well as retaining the previous travel routes during non-peak times.

Here are some emails we have received: 

I am experiencing frustration with the Children's Hospital Shuttle busses leaving the hospital Emergency room exit on 40th Ave N.E. and then blocking traffic behind them as they try to make a left on to Sand Point Way. I travel on this route often and there are many times when I do not make the light to cross SPW, sometimes I miss a few a few lights, because of left turning shuttle buses. Physically where the light is located the bus cannot pull out further on SPW and allow cars behind the buses to pass through. Recently, I was nearly hit head on by a shuttle bus making a left. I was coming from the opposite direction as the shuttle bus on 40th towards Laurelhurst. As I was approaching SPW the light turned yellow. To avoid being hit head on by the left turning shuttle bus I quickly rerouted and turned right on to SPW instead of going forward towards my home. 

We hope that shuttles will not be re-routed to NE 45th Street. During peak hours, it often takes three to four light cycles to even get through the intersection as the line is so long and the light change is even longer. The week-ends the frequency of the lights does not reflect the lighter traffic, as we have sat at the light for up to three minutes on a regular basis when there are hardly any cars on the road going through the intersection. The frequency of the light changing needs to be  increased in general and especially if now we are going to have queue up behind Hospital shuttles in our neighborhood and one of the main arterials in and out of the neighborhood. 

The light at NE 45th Street is very long on both weekdays and even on week-ends sometimes only one car waiting to get through the light at 7am and the light is lenghy. It does not seem to be well thought-out on the timing. 

Weekdays it takes 2-3 light changes to get through that light and adding shuttle traffic to that it will take up to 10 minutes to get through that light just to leave the neighborhood.  Once, we timed how long it took to get through that intersection and it was about 5 minutes on a weekday, waiting for the light to change being at the front of the line. So imagine if you have to wait 4-5 minutes per light change and you are at the back of the line.

 

Have any studies been conducted on the timing of the light, frequency as associated with various hours of the day, the differences between times of days and the differences between days. Is the light activated by cars waiting or is it on a timer?

 (photo courtesy of Metro Magazine)

 

 

 

 

Police Pull Over Speeding Driver Near Suicide Hill Yesterday

Bottom of dangerous hill looking east on NE 41st Street

Yesterday about 7:30am a Seattle Police Officer pulled over a driver going way too fast on NE 41st Street commonly known as "Suicide Hill, "  the the dangerous hill on NE 41st Street between 42nd Avenue NE and 43rd Avenue NE.

A nearby neighbor told us the driver was  "finally getting caught doing what so many of the drivers in that area do so often along NE 41st Street."

Robin, who works on road safety with the Laurelhurst Community Club, has  over many years witnessed accidents and near misses,  And now he is working to improve the safety in that area.

Following a review in October by Jim Curtin , SDOT Traffic Safety Coordinator, several modifications and changes were recommended to ensure better safety for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. 

One of these recommendations was Seattle Police patrolling for speeders and this will continue to occur as neighbors report speeders driving in excess of 50mph down the hill.

Other changes to the area now in place are SDOT "SLOW DOWN" signs. However, a neighbor told us that "so far some of the speeders seem to be going too fast to read them".

Other changes will be:

• Cutting back trees for visibility, especially those on on the north side of "Suicide Hill" and in the right-of-way to improve sight lines for all who travel along the corridor. This work will occur on NE 41^st Street between 42^nd Avenue NE and 43^rd Avenue NE.
• Replacing faded regulatory signs at the intersection and refresh the stop bars.
• A  new advisory sign indicating an advisory speed of 15 mph going downhill will be installed west of the Laurelhurst Park entrance and a new 30 mph speed limit sign will be posted at a location east of 48^th Avenue NE or 50^th Avenue NE for the westbound direction.
• Remarking the stop bars.

In October we posted about a dog that was struck and killed by a speeding driver on NE 41st Street and in  December we reported about two car accidents, one in which one person left in an ambulance and the other the speeding driver lost control and hit the median sending one tired into the fence at Talaris and knocking part of it down.

We also posted comments from neighbors who live and drive through that area.

 

Laurelhurst Community Club wrote this to Police Sergeant Newsom yesterday, following the incident:

The Laurelhurst Community Club is grateful that you have provided police officers to monitor speeding on Suicide Hill (along NE 41^st in Laurelhurst). There have been serious accidents along this stretch and to date SDOT has been unable to solve the problem. The speeding cars scare our neighbors and it’s just a matter of time before someone is seriously injured. Thank you very much for your efforts.

Robin reminds drivers that the speed limit for all Seattle streets, unless otherwise posted, is 25mph.

 

 

 

Reader Urges Drivers To Slow Down In School Zone

We received this email:

A note to neighbors to please remember to drive slowly in the Laurelhurst Elementary school zone areas. Recently, I saw a car speeding at roughly 3:15pm in front of the school heading northbound on 46^th Avenue NE and then exiting the school zone area at a higher than normal speed. 

There are children exiting the building early to do patrol crossing duty as well as families and other children walking around the perimeter of the school and crossing the streets there. Adding rain and crowded parking conditions just makes this type of driving even more dangerous.

Please slow down.

Another Car Accident At 42nd Avenue NE And NE 41st Street And Updare On Accident That Knocked Down Talaris Fence

We received this email about yet another car accident near at the intersection of NE 41st Street and 42nd Avenue NE:
:

Last Thursday, December 5th, there was a bad car crash yesterday about 5:15pm at the bottom of the hill at the corner of 42nd Avenue NE and NE 41st Street.

I heard the crash, but did not see it happen.  From the damage, direction/location of the vehicles, it looked like a car

was turning left onto NE 41st and was hit by a SUV going up the hill.

There was one person taken away in an ambulance, though I don't know the extent of their injuries. There was also a fire truck and two police cars who came to help.

I spoke briefly to the people from the SUV to let them know 911 was coming.  They had already gotten out of their vehicle on their own. Their SUV did have to be towed away.

The SUV ended up almost perpendicular again my curb on the hill side of 42nd Avenue NE. The other vehicle ended up around the corner in front of my neighbor's house just before you go up NE 41st Street.

It looked to be hit on the driver's side. That neighbor said both vehicles crossed the corner of their property and came very close to their fence. From the extensive glass, the crash itself happened right in the middle of the intersection.

We're not sure if someone running a stop sign on 42nd, or speeding on 41st (or both) caused the accident. As you are all too aware, hese are things we've all been concerned about already.

We reported last week about another accident in this same location that happened Sunday about 2am, November 24th,  when a car hit the median on NE 41st Street and a wheel came off knocking down a large part of the fence at Talaris.

Additional information is available now about this accident. According to the police report, the driver was headed eastbound at a ‘high rate of speed’, spun around 180 degrees, took out the fence and the tires were ripped off the rims. Approximately 200 feet of skid marks were observed.

The driver, barely 21 years old, who was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Breathalyzer results show that the driver was likely nearly three times over the legal limit of .08 BAC. There were three other passengers in the vehicle at the time of the crash. No serious injuries occurred.

And in October we posted about a dog that was struck and killed by a speeding driver on NE 41st Street, another dangerous hill just one block east. We also posted comments from neighbors who live and drive through that area who are concerned about the safety of that area.

Last month, Jim Curtin, with SDOT provided analysis of the area, and concluded that SDOT needed to move forward with safety modifications, which are now in the works, depending on weather and other factors.

These include replacing faded regulatory signs at the intersection and replace the stop bars. Additionally, a new advisory sign indicating an advisory speed of 15 mph going downhill will be installed west of the Laurelhurst Park entrance and a new 30 mph speed limit sign will be posted at a location east of 48^th Avenue NE or 50^th Avenue NE for the westbound direction.

 

SDOT will also cut back vegetation in the right-of-way to improve sight lines for all who travel along the corridor. This work will occur on NE 41^st Street between 42^nd Avenue NE and 43^rd Avenue NE.

 

Seattle Police (SDP)  has started patrolling the speed limit on the NE 41^st St corridor during the afternoon.
A family that lives near the intersection said that they keep a first aid kit in the front closet to treat those injured in accidents at that intersection.

"We hope that with all these recent accidents that drivers will really slow down going up and down the hills and heed the posted street signs.  It is heartbreaking for us to hear the car screeching and sound of impact of the car accidents and then learn that more people and pets have been injured.  It just doesn't have to happen at all," a nearby neighbor told us.
 

Neighbor Reports Unsafe Driving Near Elementary School

We received this email:

On Monday, November 18^th at about 8 AM, I witnessed a light colored Prius pass a slower moving car, going about 30 mph, on NE 45^th Street, between 46^th Avenue NE and 45^th Avenue NE, heading west down the hill. 

It was raining and the Prius passed the slower car going going well over the speed limit.  This is the stretch of road ina school zone, between Seattle Community Church and the Park, just southwest  of the Elementary School. 

Being Monday morning at 8AM, I doubt the person got very far before encountering another car doing the speed limit. I urge neighbors to drive cautiously and not risk the lives of other neighbors who may be driving or walking, just to be ahead of the car in front of you.

How The Name "Suicide Hill" On NE 41st Street Came About

Bottom of dangerous hill looking east on NE 41st Street

We received several emails about the name "Suicide Hill” which we referred to in the post about the dangerous hill on NE 41st Street between 42nd Avenue NE and 43rd Avenue NE, which the City is now trying to make safer with some immediate upcoming changes.

Two neighbors asked us to remove the name from the post and we complied. However, it is not a name we made up, but a name that has been used for quite some time and has a different meaning than what people may think.

Jeannie Hale, Laurelhurst Community Club President, gave us this information:

The name comes from the fact that sporting teams at the UW used to jog up the hill as part of their training. Their route would take them up the big hill. 

Because it’s such a steep hill and hard to run up, the students called it “Suicide Hill.” 

The students would meet on the Battelle/Talaris property very early in the mornings on weekends—making quite a bit of noise as young people sometimes do. LCC worked with the University and the students now meet at CUH and I’m not sure of the current route.

The name caught on—even with the City of Seattle, who use that name as well to refer to the very steep hill. 

Police To Start Patrolling Dangerous NE 41st Street Hill And Other Upcoming Changes To Improve Safety

Bottom of dangerous hill looking east on NE 41st Street

Last week we posted about a dog that was struck and killed by a speeding driver on NE 41st Street, a dangerous hill in the neighborhood, intersecting with NE 43rd Street, also known as "the Boulevard."  We also posted comments from neighbors who live and drive through that area.

We just received SDOT's review from Jim Curtin, SDOT Traffic Safety Coordinator, in which he details the analysis of the area and upcoming changes and modifications to ensure better safety for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists, including also patrolling NE 50th Street on the north side of Laurelhurst.

Jim writes:

Thank you for contacting the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) with your traffic concerns near the intersection of NE 41^st Street and 43^rd Avenue NE. We appreciate your patience as we reviewed conditions.

We understand your traffic safety concerns on NE 41^st Street. Drivers headed westbound on NE 41^st Street could quite easily exceed the speed limit going downhill. However, data indicates that the majority of drivers travel near the posted speed limit of 30 mph through this corridor with the 85^th percentile speed at 32 mph. Driver compliance with the speed limit is likely due to a number of factors.

First, the westbound travel lane is roughly nine feet wide. This relatively narrow travel lane likely contributes to slower speeds since drivers generally drive slower under these conditions.

Second, a number of advisory speed limit signs are in place along the NE 41^st Street corridor. These signs suggest that drivers go 15 mph downhill and are present where NE 41^st Street intersects 45^th Avenue NE and 43^rd Avenue NE.

Third, additional warning signs along the corridor provide extra guidance to drivers. For westbound drivers, a sign warns of “hidden driveways ahead” at 45^th Avenue NE. For eastbound drivers, an intersection warning sign with a flashing beacon and 15 mph advisory speed limit placard alerts drivers that they are approaching a junction.

While the majority of drivers comply with the posted speed limit of 30 mph on this corridor, we have requested that the Seattle Police Department conduct speed enforcement patrols for the entire NE 41^st Street corridor. The presence of law enforcement in the neighborhood should have a speed reduction effect on this roadway.

Collision data shows that the intersection of NE 41^st Street and 43^rd Ave NE functions as intended. There have been three reported collisions at this intersection since 2001 and just one in the past three years. However, SDOT staff will move forward with some modifications to enhance safety in this area.

SDOT will replace faded regulatory signs at the intersection and refresh the stop bars. Additionally, a new advisory sign indicating an advisory speed of 15 mph going downhill will be installed west of the Laurelhurst Park entrance and a new 30 mph speed limit sign will be posted at a location east of 48^th Avenue NE or 50^th Avenue NE for the westbound direction.

SDOT will also cut back vegetation in the right-of-way to improve sight lines for all who travel along the corridor. This work will occur on NE 41^st Street between 42^nd Avenue NE and 43^rd Avenue NE. SDOT may need to work with the adjacent residents prior to performing this work.

Most of this work will be completed before the end of the year with just a few exceptions.

SPD will schedule their work separately but they will likely start patrolling in the next two weeks. We’ve asked SPD to enforce the speed limit on the NE 41^st St corridor during the afternoon since the highest recorded speeds where clocked between 4 and 6 PM. We’ve also asked SPD to monitor NE 50^th St since a resident contacted SDOT with a safety concern in that area too.

Remarking the stop bars may not occur in 2014 since we need warm and dry weather to accomplish this task. Unless our current dry period lasts for several more weeks, this work will likely occur in the spring. Sign installation and replacement will occur before the end of 2013.

Vegetation trimming will occur in December. This work will need to occur a couple of times every year to ensure that sight lines remain open. It is technically the responsibility of homeowners to maintain the right-of-way adjacent to their property – especially if the overgrown vegetation was planted by the homeowner – but SDOT will send crews to take care of the current issues. We’ll want to talk with some of the owners about long term maintenance.

Pease feel free to contact me should you have any questions or comments about this information.

Thanks again,

JIM CURTIN | Traffic Safety Coordinator | Seattle Department of Transportation |

Traffic Management Division| 206-684-8874 (Tel)

Reader Comments On Speeding Drivers On NE 41st Street Hill And SDOT Contact For Concerns

Bottom of dangerous hill looking east on  NE 41st Street

 



We have received many comments after our post Tuesday about a dog being hit and killed on NE 41st Street, near the very steep hill.

One neighbor, submitted his concerns and comments to Jim Curtin, SDOT Traffic Safety Coordinator, over a month ago, and Jim has just told the neighbor and the Blog Staff that the evaluation of the site will finally be available on Monday. 

Jim added: 

Please let me know if you know of any recent collisions at this location since crash information is one factor we take into account during our evaluation. There is a rather significant lag time between the incident and the collision report being sent to SDOT so any additional information you can provide would be helpful. To date, we show one collision at this intersection in 2013 that occurred on June 24th.

.

Jim Curtin can be reached by email at Jim.Curtin@seattle.gov or by phone 206-684-8874.

In addition, the Laurelhurst Community Club, (LCC), has been working on this major safety hazard for many years. SDOT installed a reduced speed sign and a yellow blinking light in the past to calm speeds.

 

"More obviously needs to be done to address the problem,"Jeannie Hale, LCC President told us. 

She said that the two worst accidents she is aware of were at the top of the hill - due to lack of visibility. In one accident, one car was totaled and another accident was at the bottom due due to excessive speeds, in which a car was proceeding along 42^nd Avenue NE and was hit by a speeding car proceeding on NE 41st Street.

A neighbor who lives two blocks from the dangerous intersection said that he has heard numerous accidents from his house. He told us that about five years ago an SUV with five Chinese students in was  heading south on 43rd Avene NE and was hit broadside by a full sized sedan heading east fast up NE 41st Street.  There was a lot of damage to the SUV and he believes a broken arm to one of the students.

Another accident he remembers is one aout ten years ago that involved a plumbers truck heading west down NE 41st Street and hit a car crossing the intersection at 43rd Avenue NE, which ended up being totalled. And the impact was so great that pipes on top of the plumbers truck flew down the hill at least 300 feet.

The neighbor also recalls at least five dogs and one cat that have been killed on this stretch over the years.  One kid was crossing the intersection with his dog on a leash. A car coming fast up the hill missed the kid but hit and killed the little dog.

We received these comments from those who travel in that area:

I have lived on NE 41st St. for over 40 years and have tried many times to get the city to install speed bumps or traffic calming always with the same response...NO Their reason is because this street is a main arterial and emergency vehicles need access. I do believe every road leading to Villa Academy has speed bumps so what would happen if there was ever an urgent need response required there?

This past June, we came across a car wreck at the cross streets of NE 41st Street and 43rd Avenue NE. Ever since we moved in almost two years ago, I frequently cross NE 41 Street from 43rd Avenu NE. Every time I cross that street I'm thankful I made it safely. I often thought it might take an accident for the City to put stop signs on the 45th Steet  sides, both east and west. Perhaps the unfortunateaccident will make this happen. 

A concern I have for that intersection is during the School year. The public middle school kids catch their bus at the NE between 7-7:20. I have often seen many students wait until speeding cars, coming from the east, heading west, are traveling too fast to slow down. They come flying down that hill. And many cars come flying up the steep hill, coming from the west, heading east. The speed limit coming up the hill is 15MPH (I believe) and I know many are going much faster than that. During most of the school year the morning is dark, making it really hard to see the kids cross the street.

SDOT now has a new kind of speedbump called a Speed Table that targets inattentive or impaired drivers while leaving the rest of us without "speedbump bruises" They can also be installed on arterials or transit streets prevously off limits for speedbumps. 

So sorry to hear about the dog who was hit. My husband commented Tuesday about 2 police cars, with sirens going, driving very fast on 42nd Avenue NE between NE 45th Street and NE 41st Street. There is no way someone coming down 41st Avenue NE at the usual rate of speed could have stopped in time after hearing the sirens (probably blocked to some extent by the hill) or seeing the car(s).     

We again have problems turning into the alley behind that block of 42nd Ave NE and Talaris.  The lowest branches of the trees in the center median of 41st Avenue NE block the view up the hill necessary for a safe left turn. These trees were pruned slightly last year, but branches grow longer and are weighted down by leaves this time of year. It's a steep hill, and some folks drive so fast that their cars hit bottom on the flat part.  I think the speed limit should be clocked on that hill. 

I was so sad to read about Jacopo getting hit by a car on NE 41st. We live on that street too, and speeders have always been a problem -- from awful to outrageous. I contacted the City about six-eight weeks ago about conducting a traffic study after talking with a neighbor on the northside of 41st, west of us.  The usual blah-blah from the city in response (arterial, etc), but the City did promise to study us within the next year. This is long overdue.

 

This past June, one of my labs escaped from my back yard and was hit by a young lady speeding east up NE 41st Street. The dog wasn't killed but I spent the whole night looking for her, together with several neighbors, finally finding her in the park. She had to have 7 stitches in her head and 4 on her front leg. She was only 2 years old and was never the same again. Very sad. 

I really believe the very safest solution for the NE 41st. Street and 43 Avenue NEcrossing is to install one large Convex Traffic Mirror (About 24" diameter) on the NW corner and another one on the SW corner. This would enable drivers heading south or north on 43rd Avenue NE to check the mirrors and see what is coming up the hill. I also think we should install stop signs on ALL FOUR corners. This will help slow down all the speeding drivers traveling up and down NE 41st Street. The police would have a field day giving out tickets on NE 41st Street. If the SDOT say NO then I really would like to hear what they suggest. Their explanation concerning "no speed bumps" is ridiculous. If there ever a fire at Villa Academyevery road leading to that facility has speed bumps so the reasoning of emergency vehicles needing clear access goes right out the window.  

I have lived on NE 41st Street for 40 years so I do feel i"m somewhat of an expert when it comes to traffic flow in this part of Laurelhurst. The speed limit on this stretch of NE 41st is 15 mph and there are several signs warning drivers of hidden driveways as they head west down the hill from the park. Only about 10% ever obey the speed limit. It is a wonder no children have been run over though a collie dog was killed about 20 years ago by a stop-and-run driver heading west. 

The couple we bought our house from on NE 41st Street in 1968, kept a first aid kit in the front closet to treat those injured in accidents at that intersection. I myself was deposed in a court case in which a young woman riding on the back of a motorbike was hit by a car going north across 43rd Avenue NE. She had stopped but the motorcycle was going so fast she couldn’t see them coming. If there had been a mother pushing a stroller across, they all would have been dead. I refused to testify on behalf of the motorcycle kid as he was speeding. I also remember a driver who drove down 41st (westbound) so fast he lost control, and took out all the trees on our parking strip.  I could go on. This hill has been a problem now and since before we moved in. 

 

Here are two of many past Blog posts published about this area of the neighborhood:

Drivers Rolling Through Stop Signs (2/12)

Three Car Accident (June 2013)
 

 

Dog Struck And Killed On NE 41st Street

We received this email:

Just wanted to bring to your attention that our dog,Jacopo, was struck and killed on NE 41st street Saturday October 12th. The driver was in no way at fault as our dog bolted out into the street after we opened our front door.

We are absolutely devastated and so sad to lose a member of our family.

From this tragic event, it brought up issues of speed on our street. Many of our neighbors have small children, and are in agreement that speed bumps are necessary to slow down drivers coasting down our hill - or drivers trying to speed up it towards 48th AVE NE.

I would encourage other neighbors who are interested in slowing down traffic to fill out the following form through SDOT:

http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ntcp_enrollment.htm

UVillage "Walk For Animals" May Impact Traffic in Laurelhurst Sunday

The Universiy Village is holding its "Walk for the Animals" which will have potential impacts to traffic along NE 45th St and Mary Gates Drive.

A resident told us about the event:

I am not against fundraising walks, I just wish that U-Village Management would take responsibility for events which start and end on their site. Not mention bring "good will" publicity to their shopping center.

Usually large events which will be adjacent to cross city streets would coordinate with the police department, provide their own traffic control flaggers, and oh by the way notify affected neighborhoods. How is it that walkers (how many 200-1000?) will cross Mary Gates Way where there is no crosswalk and somewhat limited visibility for cars going westbound around a curve?

It would be interesting to understand why University Village and the Seattle Humane Society believes that they are outside these usual steps.

The Special Events Director from the Seattle Humane Society said:

We will have walkers using sidewalks exiting the southern entrance of U Village on Sunday Sept 22 around 10am. Walkers will cross 45^th and walk along the sidewalks on the southern side of the street. The only interference really should only be along 45^th until about 11:15 or so. We will not be walking directly through any neighborhoods.
 

I would like to invite your readers to join us for the Walk and FidoFEST, where there will be an Adoptable Dog Parade, Seattle’s Favorite Fido Contests (winners get a $50 U Village gift card!) and the Seattle Humane Society’s Top Dog Contest – all while raising important funds for the Seattle Humane Society.  

Propsed Bike Track On NE 65th Street Concerns Neighbor, Mayor Town Hall Tonight

 

 

Bicycle Track on NE 65th Street

 

 

 

 

 

The Seattle Department of Transportation has proposing a "cycle track, "a section of roadway, 12-15" wide, physically separated by a barrier from motor vehicle traffic and distinct from the sidewalk" on NE 65th Street from Green Lake Way To Sand Point Way NE.  

If built it would make 65th Street one lane in each direction without turning lanes as well as take away street parking between 20th Avenue NE and 35th Avenue NE. There is already a cycle track on NE 65th Street between Sand Point Way and the Burke-Gilman Trail.

Mayor Mc Ginn is holdin a Town Hall tonight on the issue at the Ravenna Community Center (6535 Ravenna Avenue NE) from 6:45-8pm tonight to hear concerns and answer questions.

 

A Blog reader sent us his thoughts on this proposed cycle track:

Between  20th Avenue N.E. and 35th Avenue N.E., buses would stop in the trafflc Iane. 

Riders would have to cross the cycle track to get on or off and likely queue in it. Rush hour trafñc that now uses two lanes would be squeezed into one lane in each direction. The traffic flow would stop behind any stopped vehicle, that is, vehicles turning left, buses loading or unloading; garbage pickup; accidents etc.  

There would be no curb lane to  get around them; right turning; vehicles would stay in the queue to the intersection, rather than separate out early. Expect long daily traffic jams and some impatient motorists to detour to residential streets. Vehicles now parking on NE65th Street would also shift to residental side streets.  

Businesses in that area would be affected by the loss of parking on NE 65the Street from 20^th Avenue NE to 35^th Avenue NE.

  

You can download a complete PDF of the draft plan here. The appendices are located here and the proposed network map is here. Additional maps, open house boards and presentations are on the BMP Update web page here.